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ROME: SELEX Communications, a Finmeccanica company, and Sennheiser Government Systems have partnered to offer the new Warrior Advanced Communications Headset 900 (WACH-900), which delivers a unique Active Noise Reduction (ANR) solution designed to address soldier voice communications needs in high ambient noise environments.
Combining the world-class expertise of both businesses, the WACH-900 comprises a lightweight, low power, under-helmet headset, which reduces the stress levels that can be associated with noisy vehicles and improves inter-solider communications at the interface between network centric warfare and the operational end-user.
Sennheiser's unique capabilities in the active control of electro-acoustic components ensures that WACH-900 delivers the most stable and effective ANR circuitry in production. Its electronic stereo talk-through facility is designed to mimic the natural reception of human hearing to ensure optimal situational awareness.
The system's overall mechanical design, microphones and ancillaries are provided by SELEX Communications, whose pedigree includes the Personal Role Radio, the world's most popular squad radio, and all its associated headsets, cabling and microphones.
Supporting the need to support individual preferences, the WACH-900's modular design allows users to change the microphone boom and down lead assembly mounting from the left to the right earpiece, if required.
David McDonald, Vice President for Military Specialist Communications, comments, “The combination of skills from Sennheiser and SELEX Communications, respectively world leaders in ANR and soldier systems communications, provides the operational effectiveness and hearing protection required for the mounted infantryman. The WACH-900 is now available for customer trial. We believe no other communications headset offers such a leap in ANR capability, offering greater battlefield effect and protecting soldiers' hearing from damage.”
A model of the Warrior Advanced Communications Headset 900 (WACH-900) will be on display in the Finmeccanica booth #1661 at the AUSA Show in Washington DC October 9 – 11.
Background Notes and Information
Increased mobility and the consequent pressure on communications on the battlefield demands innovative solutions to issues such as ambient noise. Without such advances, mobility can be affected.
For the soldier delivering battlefield effects, high noise and the stress it can induce are the often-overlooked realities of high mobility. High environmental noise and the soldier's desire to ensure mission success, despite inappropriate hearing protection, has been shown to result in hearing loss. Research has also shown that exposure to high noise leads to negative physiological symptoms and even loss of visual acuity, both potentially disastrous in combat.
